BY GINNY GEIGER AND BARBARA ANDERSON
Garden Club of the Lakes
Age has no limit for a beautiful yard. This statement has been proven true by Richard and Virginia Story. By looking at them and seeing their yard, you would have no idea they were both 87 and proud of it. As they rightly should be.
They started their life together after they both lost their spouses, fell in love and got married. What a fun love story they have. After they were married, they lived in Melrose for their first seven years together. Because Richard had worked for years in the meat department of Keystone Heights Hitchcock’s, they knew and really loved this area. It just seemed right to move here. So…they left Melrose, bought this home at 4143 Southeast 1st Avenue in Keystone and have lived there for five years.
Understanding they needed to take breaks while working in their yard, they have a neat little front porch where they enjoy their coffee every morning and take a break from the sun during the rest of the day. Then there is the special swing in the middle of the yard, right beside a large jasmine vine. That is their favorite spot, especially when the jasmine is in bloom. Virginia glowed when she talked about it, not only for the lovely fragrance of the jasmine, but also it was a birthday present from Richard to her for her 84th birthday.
When they first bought their home, the yard was way more “busy” than they wanted. Richard spent a good bit of time digging up many plants, of course keeping the ones they really liked.
When we first drove up to their house, Barbara saw a tree that immediately grabbed her attention. She said it was a Norfolk Pine. Ginny has one which looks nothing like this one, so she questioned the Storys about it. Sure enough, it is a Norfolk Pine that Richard planted five years ago that got killed back during the serious cold spell we had here and has grown out in a most unusual way.
There were several trees in their yard when they moved in. The most note-worthy ones are the three 80-foot pine trees that were invaded by bugs and had to be taken out. Needless to say, that made the Storys really sad, but there are still a few left that survived.
This yard has some really interesting plants and a most interesting bird camera. We will take them one at a time. The BEST one is their flaming red pentas (did you know that “pentas” is both singular and plural for this plant?) which they bought at the Garden Club of The Lakes plant sale last year. They said it was their best buy. Richard planted other pentas, but “ours” was by far the prettiest. Because they attract butterflies, Richard and Virginia particularly like them.
Please come to this year’s plant sale on April 5th from 9:00 to 1:00 at Faith Presbyterian Church, 2738 SR 21 in Melrose and find some really interesting plants at great prices.
Then there is the fruit tree that was an experiment from a local nursery. They grafted an apple tree and a pear tree and it is blooming. This year will be the test of the flavor. Planted right beside the experimental tree is an orange tree. How fun it is to live far enough south to have your own fruit trees.
Now to the bird camera on one of their bird feeders. It was a gift from Virginia’s son Ken who has the technical knowledge to set it up for them. Somehow, when a bird lands on this particular feeder, it activates something that alerts Richard and Virginia, they open the app on their phones and watch the video. That is an explanation of all we were able to understand, and all they understood to explain to us. Technology has long since passed the understanding of us older folks.
Then there is Pepper, their very best friend. About 10 years ago, their pastor found Pepper, just a little puppy, running down State Road 100. He gave Pepper to the Storys who have spoiled him ever since. If you ever wonder how much Pepper means to them, wonder no more. By the front door is a big rock inscribed with “Story” and a smaller one with just a “P”.
A variety of other plants in this most interesting yard are Gerber daises, azaleas, 2 roses, a Florist Kalanchoe, gardenias, a sego palm and beautiful blooming red bud trees. Most of these were planted by Richard AND REMEMBER – he is 87 years old!
The highlight of our visit, after Pepper, was Virginia’s playing the piano for us as we were leaving. It was just a little taste of heaven as her nimble fingers ran across the keys like a concert pianist AND REMEMBER – she is 87 years old!
If you want to learn more about the Garden Club of The Lakes or nominate yourself or anyone in the community for Yard of The Month, please call Pat Lorenzo at (904)728-9460.
